Get Ready for Winter Storms with this Snow Prep Checklist

We’ll never turn down a lazy snow day followed by a cozy evening indoors, but if you’re not prepared, the best part of winter — snow — can quickly turn into the worst. While winter weather is notoriously hard to predict, you can get ahead of the blizzard with a bit of careful planning. Prepare for every stage of a winter storm with this safety checklist.

Prepare backup power supply.

Check car tires and supplies.

While it’s best to stay indoors in a storm, inspect your car for winter travel in case it’s unavoidable. Check the tires and antifreeze, change the oil, and stock your trunk with safety essentials like snow chains, jumper cables, and a shovel. Before the storm, lift the windshield wipers so they won’t freeze in place.

Stay indoors.

But if there’s a break in the snow, shovel key areas periodically to avoid facing a huge pileup at the end of the storm.